The Institute of Jamaica Junior Centre Dancers show that they too have a role in preserving the Jamaican culture.

Andre Jebbinson, Staff Reporter

The Institute of Jamaica is serious about keeping Jamaica's heritage alive. It is divided into six sections, each with a mandate to preserve and foster the growth of a specific Jamaican paradigm.

The junior division is one such section and is responsible for keeping the youths element alive. It promotes the after school and Saturday performing arts programmes.

"We are here to develop skills and self-esteem in our children. If you are going to be a performer you need to have confidence," said Programmes Division Director, Jacqueline Bushay.

The programme was started in the 1940s when Edna Manley taught free art lessons at the institute.

Who is eligible

Students at the Institute of Jamaica Greater Portmore Junior Centre performing in sign language. - Contributed photos

Any child between the ages of six and 18 years is eligible to participate in the programmes offered at any of the three Centres in Portmore, Half Way Tree and East Street (downtown, Kingston). All three centres have an approximate combined population of 300 students.

Becoming a part of the programme is simple as parents only need to complete a registration form and return it to the respective centre along with a signed code of conduct form, a recent passport size photograph of the child and payment of the respective fees.

A child may participate in any number of activities in a given day or week providing such a child is registered and the fees paid. The fee is a small one when compared to the quality of the programme according to Bushay. Participants in the after-school programme pay $30 per week, while those in the Saturday programme pay $60.

"You are getting quality at a minimal cost and the cost has nothing to do with the quality of the programme," she said.

"Apart from that, they growing up realising they need to work hard for everything."

While this is not a certificate programme, the children are awarded in-house tokens for their work. Also, they get the opportunity to enter the various performing art competitions, often winning gold, silver and bronze medals in the Jamaican Cultural Development Commission competitions.

The centre also received the Yasmin Bryan-Brown award for most outstanding community group in 2005 and the National Trophy for most outstanding junior drumming group in 2006. The centre has been credited with other awards.

Bushay is encouraging others, adults and children, to visit any of the centres to see what the centre has to offer.